Jonathan’s Comments (group member since Aug 06, 2009)

Jonathan’s comments from the Team MIA group.

Seems like Tenniel did create a medieval type of world with his illustrations for Alice...almost a Punch and Judy or commedia del'arte -type of characters with their exaggerated noses, chins, and heraldic outfits. Even though he didn't go after the romantic naturalism and heightened colors of say, W. Holman Hunt, he harkened back to an era of the past ala' those pre-Raphaelites. I'd never thought of him as being part of this group though and don't know much of his illustrations beyond Alice.
Sort of related, I was just reading about a color of pigment called 'Mummy Brown' that was created by grinding up actual mummy appendages that British traveler/tomb raiders would bring back to England. This became a really popular pigment for pre-Raphaelites to use (until the supply of mummies started running out in the late 19th cent.). The first guy to use this found a tomb of mummies and "...broke off all parts of the bodies...and brought home divers heads, hands, arms, and feete" (sic) to sell to paint-makers, etc. This story seems an even better connection to the absurdity of Alice In Wonderland and the pre-Raphaelite's canvases.
Queen of Hearts: "Who's been painting my roses red? WHO'S BEEN PAINTING MY ROSES RED? /Who dares to taint / With vulgar paint / The royal flower bed? / For painting my roses red / Someone will lose his head."